Platform Parties Planned For Train To DIA's Grand Opening
DENVER (CBS4) - The launch of the new A Line train to Denver International Airport from Union Station is only a few days away, and on Monday CBS4's Mark Taylor got a look at some of the brand new stations along the line.
Crews will be putting the finishing touches on the A Line's six commuter rail stops all this week as they get ready for Friday's debut. The Regional Transportation District calls the new A Line a game-changer for Denver.
On Friday Denver will join just a handful of cities across the country that has its own "Train to the Plane" service. Every 15 minutes the new commuter train will take up to 170 passengers from Union Station to the airport in just 37 minutes for $9.
With its double platform size and the state's longest escalator, the DIA platform is built to grow with the airport.
"We actually built it for long-term growth along with the airport," RTD spokesman Nate Currey said.
Currey said while other cities have mass transit trains to their airports, Denver's A Line has fewer stops and a faster track.
"It runs much faster; it can go up to 79 miles per hour. You'll see that out on Pena -- that's a stretch where we can really crank it," he said.
RTD estimates approximately 18,500 people will travel on the A Line every day. As the G, B and R lines open up early next year they plan to grow the number of people using the Union Station hub to more than 100,000.
MORE FROM RTD-DENVER.COM: A Line Website | A Line Facts Sheet | Grand Opening/Station Party Details
There are multiple platform parties planned this Saturday at several of locations after a grand opening celebration on Friday. Passengers can also ride for free Friday afternoon and all day on Saturday. And RTD is celebrating with free rides on all rail lines on Saturday only.
